1. Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel was captured by Iraqi forces during the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and he was the best known of more than 600 Kuwaiti civilians who were held as prisoners of war by Saddam Hussein's government.
14 Facts About Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel
1. 2.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel was never seen by his family or friends again until his remains were unearthed in the Iraqi desert in 2004.
3.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel was born in Kuwait City and started out as a painter before coming to prominence at the age of 19 with a collection of poems entitled Wasmiah and the Stalks of Childhood.
4.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel went on to publish several more books of verse and penned the lyrics to several songs that became popular in the Arab world, collaborating with singers including Mohammed Abdu, Talal Maddah and Abu Baker Salem, and many well known singers.
5.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel wrote several plays performed in his homeland, including Kuwait's first puppet play, and was active in the administration of Kuwait's national theater company.
6.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel saw poetry as political, something that could act as an engine of social change.
7.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel married his cousin Salma Al-Abdi in 1967 and had five children: Gadah was born on 1971), Fares, Raja, Sara (1983 and and Nouf.
8.
When Iraqi forces unexpectedly overran Kuwait on August 2,1990, Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel was caught in Kuwait City with his wife and four-year-old daughter Nouf.
9.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel embarked on a high-risk adventure to drive his wife and child to the desert border with Saudi Arabia, but chose not to leave with them, telling his wife he wanted to put a few affairs in order before joining the family overseas.
10.
In 2000, the Kuwaiti authorities found an ambiguous letter in the handwriting of the poet Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel, which was received by a Mauritanian novelist, who was invited to a cultural conference in Iraq.
11.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel's remains were unearthed from a shallow mass grave in the desert near Kerbala in July 2004.
12.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel was identified by the intact label inside his traditional Kuwaiti robe, showing the name of his tailor.
13.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel's body was brought back to Kuwait where he was buried on June 20,2006, in Kuwait City's Sulaibikhat Cemetery.
14.
Fayeq Abdul-Jaleel is a spot of light that takes its place next to the radiant light bouquets that represent our martyrs.